More infected mosquitoes found, aerial spraying planned

Mosquitoes carrying the eastern equine encephalitis virus have been found in Easton and Lakeville. Faced with the unusually early appearance of the virus, the state has ordered aerial spraying in Bridgewater, Easton, Middleboro, Raynham, West Bridgewater, Carver, Halifax, Lakeville, Norton, Plympton and Taunton.

By Amy Carboneau

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Amy Carboneau

Posted Jul. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 18, 2012 at 6:10 PM

By Amy Carboneau

Posted Jul. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 18, 2012 at 6:10 PM

» Social News

Mosquitoes carrying the eastern equine encephalitis virus have been found in Easton and Lakeville.

The virus was detected in three species of mosquitoes trapped on Monday in Easton and one species in Lakeville.

It was the third time infected mosquitoes were found in Lakeville this month and the seventh time in Easton. Encephaltis-carry mosquitoes have also showed up in Carver.

State Sen. Marc Pacheco is applauding the state’s Department of Public Health for listening to the region’s requests for aerial spraying and changing its policy based on new numbers.

The state announced Tuesday that it would begin aerial spraying over 11 communities in southeastern Massachusetts, after finding more mosquitoes infected with Eastern equine encephalitis over the weekend.

Last week, the state reported EEE-positive mosquitoes had been found in pools in Easton, Carver and Lakeville.

“We worked long and hard to have the administration look at the updated science,” Sen. Pacheco, D-Taunton, told The Enterprise on Tuesday, after the announcement. “I must say, the commissioner of public health was receptive. He made an effort to understand what was going on and the public consequences.”

Two human cases of EEE were reported last year, including one fatal case.

A state-issued press release Tuesday states: “EEE activity in both 2010 and 2011 raised public concern and prompted DPH to work with a panel of experts to evaluate and enhance the state’s surveillance and response program.”

In June, the state lowered its threshold for considering aerial spraying from a “critical” level to a “high” level, meaning officials would consider it before a first human case was reported.

The state has not yet announced when the aerial spraying will begin, but said it will likely be early next week at the latest.

“The challenging part,” said Commissioner John Auerbach, of the Department of Public Health, “is the weather conditions have to be exactly right.”

If it is too windy, wet or temperatures are too cool – below 64 degrees – mosquitoes will not be flying.

The goal in aerial spraying, Auerbach said, is to kill as many mosquitoes as possible.

“We don’t want to waste it,” he said.

The pesticide released from the planes is only effective while it is in the air, he added.

Usually, spraying happens after dark, about 8 p.m.

The 11 communities that the state plans to target are Bridgewater, Carver, Easton, Halifax, Lakeville, Middleboro, Norton, Plympton, Raynham, Taunton and West Bridgewater.

“The focal point tends to be the area around the Hockomock Swamp,” Auerbach said.

The communities on the list to be sprayed, he added, are towns that have elevated risk based on current and historic data.

Residents of those communities are encouraged to check the Department of Public Health website, www.mass.gov/dph, for updates on when the spraying will occur.